Court Rejects Umar Faruk's Challenge to ADC Leadership

The Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto dismissed a suit filed by Umar Faruk, a former State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), challenging the party's leadership in Sokoto State. The ruling was delivered by Justice Ahmad Gama on October 15, 2026, citing lack of merit and evidence.

Faruk and others had alleged that the party structure was taken over by new entrants and sought to be reinstated as the substantive Chairman. Justice Gama ruled in favor of the respondents, stating that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party.

He noted that the plaintiffs did not exhaust the party's internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court and failed to demonstrate any infringement of their fundamental human rights. Suleiman Usman, SAN, counsel for the respondents, praised the judgment as sound and a reinforcement of democratic principles.